The Top Rock Bands Of The 1980s
Heart not only created several big hits, but managed to sustain a high-level of quality music for decades. And that was despite the members constantly being switched and changed over time. There have been 38 different musicians associated with the band since it was started in 1967. None of the original members are even still involved. Yet, they’ve made several hits, such as “What About Love”, “Never”, and “Crazy On You”.
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Poison had a style that blended traditional rock with the cheesy feel of the 80s. Bret Michaels, the front of the band, has also continued to be a fixture in pop culture. He’s been in a lot reality TV over the years. But since the band blew up in the 80s, they were able to invade the public consciousness. They even had three consecutive multi-platinum albums, including Look What the Cat Dragged In.
Poison had a style that blended traditional rock with the cheesy feel of the 80s. Bret Michaels, the front of the band, has also continued to be a fixture in pop culture. He’s been in a lot reality TV over the years. But since the band blew up in the 80s, they were able to invade the public consciousness. They even had three consecutive multi-platinum albums, including Look What the Cat Dragged In.
The 80s was a volatile and complicated decade for Aerosmith. No one’s doubting their longevity and overall fame, but as far as the top bands in the 80s, Aerosmith wasn’t exactly at its peak. Two members of the band had even left and returned during this time. The 80s weren’t the best decade for Aerosmith, but no one can deny their overall appeal.
“Here I Go Again” is probably one of the most iconic songs, let alone rock songs, to have come out in the 80s. Although, Whitesnake isn’t known for just one piece. They played with a few different instrumentals over time, as well as evolving their look. The group doesn’t have the same longevity or success as other groups after the 80s, but they certainly burned bright during that decade.
Let’s look at our first female-led band on this list. This group was incredibly popular for the first half of the decade, creating several songs that resonated with crowds. Their pop-filled take on rock seemed to almost epitomize what the 80s music scene was all about. And they had three successful albums (Beauty and the Beast, Vacation, and Talk Show) to boot. While they didn’t last forever, Belinda Carlisle, the group’s front man, had a very successful solo career after its dissolution.
Tom Petty’s more well-known as a solo act nowadays, but let’s not forgot how great his band was back in the day. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers were one of the most prolific groups in the 80s. They came out strong with “Refugee” and just kept producing hits. They weren’t a hard rock group, nor did they lean on a glam rock appearance. They had a more folksy feel that seemed to attract a different demographic.
Pantera may be a bit more of an acquired taste. But once you get into it, you’re into it forever. Pantera’s music was a bit more esoteric in nature, playing heavy metal rock. People thought it wouldn’t appeal much to general audiences, but Pantera proved them all wrong. They combined elite instrumentals with an amalgamation of different rock genres. The band even got four Grammy nominations.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers started out with just a couple of friends from high school looking to play some music. Now they’re an international sensation. Rock’s the integral theme of RHCP, but there are also elements of funk, pop, and rap. Their music is really unique and they even won six Grammies. They’ve earned a great deal of critical and commercial success.
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